Job Discussion Forums

travisncali · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Federal Distrito

My 90 day visa was denied today!!!!!! Well the truth is that the lady at the desk would not let me turn in my application because she said that my passport (I few Teaching visas inside) and my want to stay for 90 days is obvious that I am there to look for employment.She told me that I could pay the $100.00 dollars but the visa will be denied and I would just lose my visa. Does anyone have an idea of what I should do? Worse case scenario is that I cancel my flight, but I really do not want to do that. Does anyone have any suggestions? Can you help? Thanks a ton!!!

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

hmm.

You should just apply for a 60 day visa then as that is what most people apply for. You should be able to get that no problem. It is enough time to apply for jobs, ARCs and yadda yadda.

If that is denied you can always just make a visa run. Just make sure you have money in the bank.

Shaun

wix · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 250 Location: Earth

It would be helpful if you gave some more information.

Which office did you apply at? What is your nationality? What paperwork did you present? Did they ask you for any additional paperwork? Have you been in Taiwan before? Do you have any overstay stamps from another country in your passport?

etc.

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:37 am Post subject:

Do you have the option of trying another visa office? If not, go back another day. Try to get a different person to serve you, and ask for a 60 day visa.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

I think it's normal to apply for a sixty day visa. Is there such a thing as a 90 day visa?

I used to book a flight to Taipei with the onwards sector being at least 32 days after my arrival in Taiwan, thus making my time there only a month (so not arousing suspicion), but at the same time forcing them to grant a 60 day visa.

The Taiwanese 'embassy' staff realise that a month or so is more than sufficient to see all the major sights.

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:30 am Post subject:

When I applied I was told I wouldn't get the 60 visa unless I could provide the ID Number of an ROC citizen friend. I paid the money and left the application with the warning that unless I provided that information when I picked up my passport, they wouldn't give it to me.

I returned two days later, showed my receipt, and got my passport back with the visa fimly affixed.

When I did a visa run to Macau last year, I was told they would grant the 60 day visa, but I wouldn't be able to get a work visa in Taiwan. I would have to come back to Macau and apply.

Two months later I had a new ARC and a resident visa in my passport, without leaving Taiwan.

The point is not to take their threats too seriously. They give you a hard time because they can, and they want you to acknowledge the power they have over you.

Go back another day, try to get served by a different person, and ask for a 60 visa

trukesehammer · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 168 Location: The Vatican

These other posters in this thread are right, Travisncali!

Apparently, the hardworking paper-pushers in the various TECO offices keep giant wheels of fortune in their back offices, which they use to assist them in their very difficult decision-making processes. The settings are...

30-DAY VISA
60-DAY VISA
90-DAY VISA
TELL 'EM TO GET A LANDING VISA
BUSINESS VISA
GIVE THIS PERSON HELL

travisncali · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Federal Distrito

Thank you everyone for the input. Some of you have helped me more than I can imagine. I cancelled my ticket and tried again with your advice and was denied. To Answer the questions, it was at the LA office in California. They wanted bank statements of over 5000, current employment letters and a bunch of other things. The sad thing is that I gave them everything they asked and they keep wanting more, which I provided. I even showed them a company credit card with the company name on it and my name with a current employment letter and salary statement. Even though I have a newer passport, I still have teacing visas in it. I do not have any over stay visas or criminal records of any kind. Oh well, I have alot of interviews set that I will miss, already lost my plane fare for not being there right now, and am a bit dissappointed already. It is beginning to look like the place I want to teach at! I will get there somehow. Now I just have to figure out how I can come there. I do not mind doing a 30 day visa and flying somewhere, I just know how hard the first 30 days are.

travisncali · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Federal Distrito

Oh I forgot to mention that they kept my two $100 dollar visa charges including the some other charge. LMAO. It is all good. I am a marked man there I guess. That is almost a ticket to Hong Kong!!!!

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144

$5000 ??? Please help, I am about to go for the tourist visa 60-day type as well, only I'm in Taiwan now.

Is it REALLY $5000 bank statement I have to show the people at immigration? Problem is my bank is only online and I have no mailed statements, only thing I can do is print one from their online files, but of course it's a print. But $5000? I'm not even close to that. Can anyone verify the required amount?

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:11 am Post subject:

When I came to Taiwan two years ago, I only needed CAD$2000. Then again, they're constantly changing the rules. You can't get another tourist visa in Taiwan, though you might get an extension (but don't count on it). Be prepared to do a visa run.

trukesehammer · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 168 Location: The Vatican

$5000 US? EGADS! Shocked

When I went to the TECO in Kansas City, nobody ever asked me for stuff like that.

Hmmm, let me think...

OPTION 1: Do you have a Taiwanese friend in the US? Can you have him or her phone the TECO office and help you? Perhaps this $5000 clause is one of those horrible "new rules" the MOFA keeps coming up with every now and then. Have your friend check for you. And have him phone more than one TECO office (see map below)...

OPTION 2: Do the legwork yourself. Buy a ticket (Greyhound, Amtrak, United Airlilnes) to San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Kansas City, Chicago, Miami, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, or Honolulu. Then dress up really nice, put on some mild businessman's aftershave, and show up with a pleasant smile and hope for the best. Personally, I'm partial to Honolulu or Guam where people are generally more laid back.

OPTION 3: Go straight to HK and try your luck there. The folks in Hong Kong have a reputation of being some serious office monsters, sometimes well-deserved. But every once in a while, you'll run into somebody in a good mood.

OPTION 4: Just show up here for the dang 30-Day "Landing Visa." I've never seen anybody asking for bank statements at the CKS International Airport <knocking on my wooden head>. Confused

Incidentally, sometimes you can find an employer who'll "fix" your visa so that you won't have to do the damned in-&-out thing (i.e., leave the island, go to a TECO in HK or Thailand or Manilla). That'll save you about 6000 bucks. On the other hand, if your employer can't or won't help you, try to look on the bright side (as you appear to be already doing) and consider it yet another opportunity for yet another great adventure.

Good luck! Smile

travisncali · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Federal Distrito

Well after a few days at the beach in San Diego clearing my head I have decided to make the trek there anyways and figure it out while I am there. The unfortunate thing is that I think it is my work experience that has caused this problem. Oh well. I bet it is harded to travel to the USA for the ROC people. See you all soon. Thanks for the input.

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

When this happens to someone -- if your 60 day visa is denied (be it in LA or NY or HK, etc...) -- can you still go ahead and just enter TW on the landing visa? If your 60 day visa application is denied in HK, for example, can you still get on your flight later that week and enter TW on the landing visa?

Thx ..... mep

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

The problem with most Taiwanese admin systems is that the front desk administrators don't know the rules! Don't be too alarmed by it all. However, asking for a 90 visa does make you stand out from the norm. I mean how many tourists go to any small country for 90 days? The thing now is not to panic. Almost everyone in Taiwan has some sort of bureaucratic hassle at some point, fingers crossed you had it before getting there!! But, as I just said, don't fret. There is almost a 0% chance that you'll get stopped at immigration. Worst case scenario is you arrive, and upon arrival get issued with a 30 day visa. Plenty of time to get an extended stay should you be looking for work.